The Winter Dark by J.S. Cook

Author:J.S. Cook [Cook, J.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub

IT WAS well after midnight when Gilbert got home. Eli was in bed pretending to sleep. Gilbert switched on the small bedside lamp. “Eli?” And when Eli didn’t answer, Gilbert said, “I guess you must be sleeping.” He undressed, doused the light, and got into bed. The apartment was eerily quiet except for the occasional electric whisper from the various household appliances and Eli’s soft breathing. “Are you awake?” Gilbert asked. He sat up, supporting himself on one elbow. “You must hate my guts.”

At this Eli gave up his pretense and turned over. “I do not hate your guts, Gilbert. I could never hate you. But we got ourselves a problem.”

Gilbert reached to turn on the light. In the circle of its gentle illumination, he looked troubled. “I know.”

“What are we planning to do about it?” Eli sat up, piling the pillows behind his back. “It seems that we are at what people call an impasse.”

“Can’t you give it another chance?” Gilbert asked. “I’m not asking you to play golf with them, for chrissakes. But some of these people are worth knowing, Eli.”

“Why?”

Gilbert bristled a little at that. “When you come up here to live, you’re going to need support and influence. These people are connected, Eli! They can show you the ropes, get you what you need.” He squeezed Eli’s shoulder. “You’d never find quality people down there in Mississippi.”

An image of Stan Leach drifted across Eli’s consciousness. “Wouldn’t I?” He sighed. “Gilbert, you been real good to me. But tomorrow morning, I am going down to the depot and I am buying a one-way ticket to Morrisville.”

“You’re going home?” Gilbert was astonished. “But tomorrow is Christmas Eve.”

“It’s like this, Gilbert. I’ve always been someone who listens to his gut, and my gut is telling me to get the hell out of Pennsylvania.” He didn’t attempt an apology. He didn’t have to.

“So that’s it?” Gilbert shook his head. “You’re just going to drop everything you could have had here and run home?”

“I am.” Eli took the pillows down and punched them into place. “Gilbert, we don’t fit. Hell, we don’t even really know each other. You have a life here, and my life is in Morrisville. I won’t ever leave there. It’s my home.” He lay down on his side, facing Gilbert. “What we’ve had has been great, but it’s over.” He wondered why this admission didn’t seem to upset him.

“It’s done?” Gilbert sighed.

“It is now.”

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